The tick-borne encephalitis vaccine, known as the TBE vaccine, prevents a disease caused by the bite of an infected tick. Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine side effects are mild, and include fever, headache and muscle aches. The TBE vaccine can protect you against tick-borne encephalitis for five years.
The tick-borne encephalitis vaccine lasts five years for most people if they receive a full course, which consists of four doses.
If you need the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine, you should get it at least 28 days before you travel. This is because you will require two doses with a minimum of 28 days in between your first and second dose, before you are able to travel fully protected.
You will need to return for a third dose a minimum of 152 days later, and a fourth dose a minimum of three years later, to continue your protection for the full five years.
Further tick-borne encephalitis boosters are available if you need to continue your protection after this. You only need one booster dose for a further five years of protection.
After having the TBE vaccination, some people experience mild tick-borne encephalitis vaccine side effects, but these usually get better quickly.
Vaccine side effects are much less severe than the symptoms of tick-borne-encephalitis, if you were to become infected.
Common tick-borne encephalitis vaccine side effects can include:
fever
headache
muscle aches
joint pain
vomiting
nausea
fatigue
pain at the injection site
If you are worried about any of the side effects of the TBE vaccination, or they have persisted for longer than a few days, you should speak to your doctor for advice.
Generally, it is recommended that everyone travelling to a destination in a risk area gets the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine.
The TBE vaccine is especially recommended to people who have a higher chance of getting infected with tick-borne encephalitis. This includes people who are travelling in rural areas, particularly during spring to autumn, and people who take part in outdoor activities, such as cycling, hiking or camping.
However, while the majority can have the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine, it can cause problems for people who are:
allergic to any of the ingredients of the vaccine
currently unwell with a fever
pregnant or breastfeeding
diagnosed with a brain disorder, such as alzheimer’s
experiencing uncontrolled epilepsy
If you belong to any of these groups or you are unsure whether you should get the tick-borne encephalitis injection, you can book a free telephone consultation with one of our prescribing nurses for a personal assessment.
The TBE vaccine is not suitable for children less than one-year-old.
If you may be at risk of tick-borne encephalitis, it is recommended that you check whether you need the vaccine, as the disease can be fatal. For the cost of the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine, see below.
Anne Marie Major, Independent Nurse Prescriber
June 25, 2019